CH 6

The Prefecture of Fuzhou in the eighth month of the lunar calendar was so hot, it was like being inside a steam basket. If a snail was stuck inside a small space for three days straight with food and drink inside, the desire for death would be even greater.

At least it was finally over, Zhao Su came out of the examination hall, he turned around to look inside, if he has made the honours list this time he will never have to live through this nightmare again.

He hoped that he was lucky this time. Zhao Su shook his head and didn’t think anymore. He slowly moved forward in the crowd with a small basket. The people who passed by in twos and threes were still discussing the gains and losses of the exam with many grey-haired people among them.

During this era, there were many people who spent their entire lifetime in pursuit of scholarly honour. To become a Court Official was to bring honor to their family and ancestors alike. In the Ming dynasty, the status of a Civil Official was usually higher than a Military Official. Even if their official ranks were the same – the Military Officials would still be considered to be half a rank lower than Civil Officials. The Frontline Commanders in chief were mostly Civil Officials who had achieved jinshi. This phenomenon makes everyone even more enthusiastic about achieving fame through the Imperial Examinations. The exams were only held every three years and there was also a set quota. There are so many candidates nationwide. The competition was fierce and cruel. Compared to the modern gaokao, it could be said to be several times harder.

Zhao Su sighed deeply, looking in front of him he saw a familiar figure standing under a tree. This figure occasionally raised his head and looked around, and then impatiently strolled back and forth, unconsciously biting his lip.

“Zi Yang.” Zhao Su said unexpectedly whilst strolling over unhurriedly.

Zhao Nuan was taken aback, he turned around and saw that Zhao Su was standing behind him smiling.

“Hey! You finally came out, I’ve been waiting here all day.” said Zhao Nuan whilst giving Zhao Su a firm punch on the shoulder.

Zhao Su just continued to smile, his face unchanged.

Although he looked weak, in reality, he had taken care to train himself up. Since that year when he had suffered a great illness, he did taichi every day, and when he had freetime, he’d run a few laps up and down the mountain. In terms of military skills, during the Ming dynasty, archery was favoured. All students were required to learn archery. Fortunately, Dai Gongwang was a skillful equestrian archer, over time, Zhao Su was able to acquire the ability to ride and shoot, which was a rare skill indeed in the Fujian and Zhejiang region as these regions bordered the sea, the people here were more adept in water.

It’s just that Zhao Su’s had inherited Lady Chen’s delicate and elegant appearance. After a few years of recuperation, his appearance was nothing like the frail and dark child back then.

Once he put on the robes of a scholar, it was easy for people to be deceived by his appearance.

“How was the exam?” Zhao Nuan hurriedly asked.

“Not too bad.”

Zhao Nuan wasn’t satisfied with this response: “If it wasn’t for Yuan Shu, you would have been on the pass list ages ago…”

Zhao Su cut him off, he put his hand on his shoulder and dragged him to leave: “Yeh yeh, let’s find something to eat fast, after eating I need to take a shower. I’ve been in there for several days already, mushrooms are starting to grow! How did you get here?”

“Did teacher come?”

In the past, this society would indulge in a life of luxury, getting ahead by abandoning morals rather than suffering in poverty, in the end, wasn’t it just a dog eat dog world. Not just talking about friends, even married couples, father and sons would also quarrel. Zhao Su had been rolling around in the dirt for so many years now, what else could he not understand, he certainly wouldn’t take to heart – this kind of small matter.

The two ate and chatted at the same time, not noticing a band of people who had arrived next to them. These people were boisterous, talking and laughing loudly.

One of them said “Chen-xiong, you’re an extraordinary literary talent, I can only look up to you humbly. I reckon you’ll definitely get 1st place this round!”

This Chen-xiong replied with a few modest remarks and then said “This round of exams had a few weird questions, putting together the teachings of Confucius with the problem of the Wukou, I don’t have the utmost confidence. I heard that the exam questions were put together by the Inspector General of the Province and Provincial Education Commissioner.”

Someone else in the group piped up “The trouble from the Wukou is incessant, I think it’s probably because the Inspector General of the Province can’t think of a solution so he’s using us scholars to come up with a solution for him! Zhao-xiong, what do you think? Hey! Zhao-xiong, what are you looking at?”

“I’m looking at someone who knows himself he’s not up to scratch but still decided to take along and have a go at the provincial examination. Once he fails, a river of tears won’t be enough!” Zhao Jin said loudly.

Zhao Nuan, hearing this, turned his head to see the cold, mocking smile of Zhao Jin.

Zhao Nuan slammed his chopsticks on the table in anger, Zhao Su tried to calm him down without lifting his head.

“Eat your food, if a dog bites someone, would you bite the dog?”

Zhao Nuan smiled and his anger simmered down a bit hearing this.

His voice was not too loud but not too quiet but Zhao Jin was able to hear it. Zhao Jin’s face turned black and he was about to get up. Zhao Su lifted his head and looked over at Zhao Jin coldly.

“Watch yourself and don’t embarrass your ancestors.”

Zhao Jin stared blankly before turning around, having heard what Zhao Su had just said, he thought to himself, it would be damaging to his reputation to stir up trouble now, so he reluctantly sat back down.

The others in the group were so engrossed in conversation that no one noticed anything peculiar about Zhao Jin.

“Chen-xiong, I heard that Changle has two people who are students of a renowned teacher, the older student received jinshi in the 38th year of Jiajing. The younger student is called Zhao Su, he also participated in the exams this year right?”

Chen-xiong nodded and laughed “I heard this as well. I only know of him but I’ve never met him. Zhao-xiong, maybe you know this talented individual.”

He was also from Changle, and was also slated to be a top-scorer in this year’s exam. He came here with a large group of people, but Chen Zhu wasn’t arrogant, in fact he was modest and amiable which made people like him even more.

Zhao Su also had a positive feeling towards this young man and replied “My teacher is waiting for me so I’m going to leave first. Hopefully, we may be able to catch up another day, my apologies!”

He paused and then pointed at Zhao Jin smiling “this is my younger brother, he’s been naughty since he was a child, I hope all of you esteemed ones will take good care of him!”

The group was astonished.

Zhao Jin had only just said that they were not related at all, now at a turn of a hat Zhao Su was saying that they were actually related and were brothers, why did Zhao Jin pretend he didn’t know him?

Zhao Jin finally reacted, shaking from anger : “Who is your younger brother?!

Zhao Su’s face didn’t change, and just smiled to the others explaining “I am the concubine’s son, my younger brother is the legitimate son. If he doesn’t want to be recognized in public that’s perfectly normal. As his older brother, I can’t not take care of him but since he doesn’t want to see me, I can only take my leave now!”

After he finished speaking, he cupped his hands together again and then threw a final look over at Zhao Jin, and then left, leaving behind a tumultuous commotion.

Everyone looked at each other, then looked at Zhao Jin whose eyes became more and more disapproving and condemning.